Boston Drops Fifth Game in Six Tries

Celtics coach Brad Stevens was asked if he thought his team had a chance to catch the second-seeded Toronto Raptors. “Hey, we’re four games away from ninth [place],” Stevens said, downplaying any thoughts of a surge. Reporters laughed because, as it turned out, Boston actually owned a six-game buffer over the first spot outside the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

Given that Boston projected with a 99.9 percent chance at making the playoffs, the idea that Stevens would worry about a slide seemed a bit preposterous. On Friday night, the Celtics dropped their fifth game in six tries. Looking uncertain and lacking the swagger that oozed during the team’s hot streak, Boston dropped a 105-91 decision to a Raptors team that it now trails by 8.5 games in the standings.

Source: Chris Forsberg of ESPN